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BIOGRAPHY 



OF 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 



BY 



M. L. WILSON 



1904 

AMERICAN TRIBUNE PRINTERY 

NEWARK, OHIO 



T 






)fls 






TO 

MR. JAMES STEELE CATHERWOOD, THE DEVOTED 

HUSBAND, AND TO THEIR AFFECTIONATE 

DAUGHTER HAZEL, IS THIS BOOK 

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 



PREFACE. 



IN the preparation of this volume the writer 
has felt his inability to do full justice to the 
sterling qualities of character and brilliant 
genius of this accomplished and successful writer. 
But since the duty and privilege seem, in an 
orderly way, to devolve upon him he has given to 
it his best thoughts and has sought to give accur- 
ate statements and convey correct impressions of 
her struggles and attainments in her literary 
career. 

When he first met the little aspiring country 
girl, her diffident manner, yet pleasing and reso- 
lute countenance appealed to his most favorable 
consideration. At that time he did not compre- 
hend the volume of energy and aplomb wrapped 
up in that apparently delicate frame. Neither 
did he dream that the day would come when her 
name would be enrolled among the leading liter- 
ary writers of America; nor that he would live to 
be called upon to write her Biography. 

Whatever pleasure he derives from the good 
fortune which made it possible for him to render 
her some material assistance in her early struggles 
is more than counterbalanced by the humiliating 
thought that he could have — and should have — 
done much more. 

Herein is a lesson of infinite significance. The 



opportunity of beneficence comes to every one; 
every day helpful possibilities confront every one. 
If in no other way, in patience, in forgiveness, 
forbearance, a loving or kind word or smile that 
may brighten the gloom of some dark day. 
Happy those whose thoughtfulness and will em- 
brace such opportunities, thus enriching and 
ennobling their own character. Churlish or care- 
less those who disregard these occasions when 
they come to them, and say: "Am I my brother's 
keeper ?" All are in a degree remiss, but it is the 
hope of the writer of the Biography of Mary 
Hartwell Catherwood that her worth and accom- 
plishments may come to the reader as a bright 
and shining light along life's dark and brush- 
encumbered way. 

Credit should be given the Hoopeston (111.) 
Chronicle for much of the matter relating to the 
funeral obsequies. In all other matter due credit, 
it is hoped will be found in the body of this 
work, except in relation to that noble Christian 
gentleman Prof. W. P. Kerr, to whom more 
praise is due. Frequent visits to the college 
during his administration gave evidence of his 
helpful disposition to everyone, and especially 
did Miss Hartwell often express her appreciation 
of his kindness. 

M. L. W. 




■^^^ 



MRS. MARY HARTWELL, CATHERWOOD, 



Born in Ljuray, Ohio, December 16, 1847 
Died in Chicago, Illinois, December 26, 1902. 



CHAPTER ONE. 



"Life's more than breath and the quick round 
blood; 'Tis a great spirit and a busy brain. We 
live in deeds, not in years; in thoughts, not in 
breaths; in feelings, not in figures on the dial 
Should we count them by heart throbs, He most 
lives who thinks most, feels most, and acts 
best." 

In many of our Public Libraries, as 
well as in the homes of the better class 
of citizens in the United States and Can- 
ada, may be found the literary works of 
Mary Hartwell Catherwood. 

Her mental endowments, supported 
by a fixed purpose and indomitable will 
broke down the barriers of poverty and 
the restricting environment of her girl- 
hood days, and through the wilderness 
of opposing influences she battled her 
way to "the promised land" of literary 
fame. The encomiums of the press, and 



8 BIOGRAPHY OF 

words of praise from the eminent in the 
field of letters, attest her accomplish- 
ments and merit. 

MARY HARTWELL was the 
daughter of Dr. Marcus and Pheba 
Hartwell, and was born in the village of 
Luray, Licking County, Ohio, Decem- 
ber 1 6, 1847. Dr. Hartwell was of 
Scotch-Irish ancestry, and came to 
Licking County, Ohio, with his parents, 
when he was quite young. His boy- 
hood days were spent upon his father's 
farm, but when nearing his majority he 
followed his inclinations and took up the 
study of medicine and surgery, chiefly 
with Dr. Thrall, of Kirkersville, Ohio, as 
his preceptor. He subsequently gradu- 
ated from the Starling Medical College, 
Columbus, Ohio, in the class of 1846. A 
short time before completing his studies 
and receiving his diploma, he was unit- 
ed in marriage to Miss Pheba, daughter 
of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Thompson of He- 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 9 

bron, Ohio, and engaged in practice in 
Luray, in the same county, where he 
lived for nearly ten years, and where 
two children were born to them, — Mary 
and Roxana. 

About 1856 Dr. Hartwell removed 
with his family to Milford, Illinois, 
where he purchased a comfortable home 
and continued in practice. Still young, 
vigorous, and energetic, his fondest 
hopes seemed in a way to be realized; 
but the hard service, the broad sweep of 
the bleak prairie winds, and incident ex- 
posure, were too much for even his 
strong constitution. He contracted a 
severe cold, which resulted in pneumonia, 
from which (on account, it is alleged, of 
inexperienced medical attention) he died 
within one year after locating at Mil- 
ford. Taken from his little family at a 
time when they so much needed his 
strong and helpful spirit to counsel and 
support them, his death was a calamity 
which only those who have suffered 



10 BIOGRAPHY OF 

such bereavement can fully realize. 

Shortly after the death of her hus- 
band, Mrs. Hartwell gave birth to a 
son, who was given the name of Mar- 
cus, for his father. The loss she had sus- 
tained in the death of her husband, to 
whom she had clung as does the ivy to 
the oak, was more than the wife could 
bear; and only a few months elapsed, 
after her husband's body had been con- 
signed to the grave, when she too sick- 
ened and died, — leaving three orphan 
children. The older two, Mary and 
Roxana, though yet quite young, were 
old enough deeply to feel their lonely 
condition. 

It may be remarked here that the 
graves of the parents, in the little ceme- 
tery of Milford, never lacked for care 
from the subject of this Biography; and 
in after years it was her custom to visit 
the spot, once or twice each year, to see 
that the graves were properly cared for, 
and to decorate them with flowers be- 



MARY HAI^TWELL CATHERWOOD 11 

clewed with memory's filial tears. She 
also had a neat and appropriate monu- 
ment placed at the graves. 

The Children Are Taken to the Home of 
Their Maternal Grandparents. 

Upon the death of Dr. Hartwell and 
his wife, Mr. Jesse Thompson, their 
maternal grandfather, had himself ap- 
pointed guardian of the three children, 
and took them to his home in Hebron, 
Ohio. Mr. Cyrus Hartwell, the doc- 
tor's brother, was appointed adminis- 
trator of the estate; but in the adjust- 
ment of affairs and payment of inci- 
dental expenses, it was found that the 
children were left in very limited cir- 
cumstances. 

While enjoying the educational ad- 
vantages of the pubHc schools in her 
new home, there was little in it to en- 
courage intellectual development, or to 
favor the aspirations so firmly implanted 



12 BIOGRAPHY OF 

in the mind of Miss Hartwell. Hebron 
was her home for some years, including 
all its joys and disturbing influences; 
and while she avers that a literary spirit 
possessed her from her earliest recollec- 
tion, here is where her literary career 
had its special unfolding. Her aspira- 
tions craved a mental growth and 
activity beyond the restrictions to which 
she was subjected and the almost insur- 
mountable obstacles that confronted her. 
With ideality and sublimity largely de- 
veloped in her mental composition, she 
was constantly making verses, and a 
Miss Sharer of Hebron, who was one of 
her early school-mates, says: 

"I think it was before Mary was ten years af 
age that she wrote a poem for our school paper 
(of which I was chosen editor), entitled, "Will- 
etta," which was so remarkably bright for one 
so youthful that I preserved the paper it was 
written on, and have it to this day." 

Mary was endowed with an inher- 
ent force of reflection and comparison 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 13 

which from the first beat against the 
bars of expression with irresistible 
force; and undoubtedly she maintained 
a close proximity to the truth when an 
inquirer once asked her, "How old were 
you when you first felt the impulse to 
write?" Her reply, given in a jesting 
way, was, ''I think it must have been 
when I was in my cradle." 

She was neither slothful nor indolent, 
but vivacious and happy in the partici- 
pation of childish sports; yet inclination 
and ambition made her a close and dili- 
gent student at school, and when she 
was but thirteen years of age she ob- 
tained a teacher's certificate. Her youth- 
ful appearance, however, prevented her 
securing a position until the following 
year. 

The School-Teacher's Experience. 

Miss Hartwell taught her first school 
in Jtteey township, in her native county. 



14 BIOGRAPHY OF 

The school-building stood in an old or- 
chard near country road-crossings, and 
was a one-story frame building. A 
large stove occupied the center of the 
room, and long wooden benches were 
provided for seats, with sloping writing 
places on each side. Here she earned 
the first money she could call her own. 

It was the custom in this district at 
this time, and one that still prevails in 
many rural districts, to pay the teachers 
a stipulated sum per month, and board 
them with the families for such a time 
as accorded with the number of pupils 
sent by each family to the school, — 
which practice was called "boarding 
'round." One evening, as Judge Green, 
— one of the district school directors 
(a^n'd who was also one of the best 
known citizens of the county) who had 
been instrumental in securing Miss 
Hartwell the school, — was driving to- 
ward his home, he overtook the young- 
teacher. She was walking slowly along 



MARY HAI^rWELL CATHERWOOD 15 

the frozen road-way, in an apparently 
self-absorbed or dejected mood. The 
winter night's shadows were falling; the 
day had been a trying one, such as all 
teachers will at times experience; weary, 
hungry, and depressed, it is not surpris- 
ing that in her lonely walk her dejected 
appearance should indicate her mental 
condition. But the sun always appears 
brighter when it emerges from a cloud, 
and human experience teaches that sea- 
sons of depression, disappointment, and 
sorrow are often the precursors of radi- 
ant joy. It was Miss HartwelFs good 
fortune to realize this, in this instance. 
After bidding her a pleasant ''good 
evening," Judge Green inquired where 
she was going; to which the youthful 
teacher replied, — 

''That's a query I've been trying my- 
self to solve. I have just left the house 

of Mr. ., which in order is the place 

where I was to be entertained next, and 
my reception was not in the least agree- 



16 BIOGRAPHY OF 

able. I was not only coldly received, 
but was told by the madam that they 
could not take me, and that I must find 
some other place. The family was seated 
at the table, and I was neither invited 
to their meal nor offered a chair." 

"How did you feel just then?" in- 
quired the judge. 

"I felt that I was dismissed, and took 
my leave unceremoniously. Now I am 
puzzled about where next to apply." 

The reply of the judge was such as to 
drive away all gloom, hunger, and fa- 
tigue from the young teacher's mind. 

"Well, young lady," said he, "you 
just take a seat in my buggy, and I 
guess you will find some one ready to 
receive you. I'm sure supper is waiting 
at home, and you will be cordially wel- 
comed by my wife and daughter." 

It was, as he had assured her; and 
with this family she always found a 
home to which she could turn for 
cheer, comfort, and assistance. Mrs. 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 17 

Green became to her as a mother, their 
daughter Seba as a sister, and Judge 
Green ever after held her affection and 
esteem as a father. 

In a letter received from the latter he 
says : 

"On one occasion, when Mary was staying 
with us, we drove to a near-by station to meet 
an old aunt of mine, who came to make us a 
visit. Mary and the children were with us. On 
returning, the aunt inquired if these children 
were all mine. I said 'Yes, all mine.' Mary told 
me afterward how glad she was to hear me say 
that, for now she felt she had a father. Ever 
after that she called me 'father.' " 

Had Miss Hartwell's inclinations led 
her to adopt teaching as a profession, 
she would have been eminently success- 
ful, as she inherited those qualities which 
insure confidence and respect from chil- 
dren. As an instance of her good judg- 
ment it may be related that during the 
winter of 1863, when she had nearly 
reached her sixteenth year, she engaged 



18 BIOGRATHY OF 

to teach in a district in which there were 
some mischievous boys who were hard 
to control. In this school, as is usual in 
such cases, there was one boy who was 
the leader. He was older than the 

teacher, and insinuated by his conduct 
that he was too old and too advanced in 
his studies to be instructed by her. He 
also committed violations of order, es- 
pecially indulging in sHghtly whistling 
at his studies, which became infectious. 
For a time she gave only general admo- 
nition, which had but temporary effect. 
Instead of showing anger, and resorting 
to corporal punishment, or reporting to 
the school-directors, she, one afternoon, 
requested this young man to tarry after 
school was dismissed. Then, when the 
scholars had retired, she took a seat 
near him, and in a kindly way told him 
something of her life struggle and what 
it was her ambition to accomplish. 

''Now, 'Con,' " she said, "I want to 
teach this school successfully, so that I 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 1 

can take a course in college and be pre- 
pared for the work I hope to do. I know 
you want to be a gentleman and not a 
rowdy. Now, you can help me, or you 
can spoil my dearest ambition, by mak- 
ing me fail as a teacher. If I lose this 
school, I may not be able to get another, 
and I will not believe you want to spoil 
my hopes by making my efforts here a 
failure." 

This appeal to the young man's reason 
and better nature was successful. He 
begged her pardon for all his miscon- 
duct; and she not only had no further 
trouble with the school, but he after- 
ward did all he cotild to assist her, es- 
pecially in mathematics, in which he was 
most proficient, and which she always 
confessed was her weak point at that 
time. Now for the sequel. During the 
summer of 1902, after a lapse of nearly 
forty years, and after the publication of 
"Lazarre," Mrs. Catherwood received 
a letter from a prominent business man 



20 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of Findlay, Ohio, referring to the above 
incident, saying he was the blue-eyed 
])oy who attended the school of such a 
place, and who gave her so much 
trouble until she had appealed to his 
honor and manhood. He said he had 
watched her career, and read her books 
as they came out, and was proud of her 
accomplishments ! 

The Biographer Makes the Acquaintance 
OF Miss Hartwell. 

It was when Miss Hartwell was about 
fifteen years of age that the writer first 
became personally acquainted with her. 
As publisher of the ''Newark (Ohio) 
American," he received from her some 
short poems and local news items which 
sparkled like the glint of a genuine dia- 
mond. Some weeks elapsed, when, 
upon invitation, she called at my office. 
I was not prepared to see a person of 
such youthful appearance, and told her 
so. She was of medium height, hght 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 21 

brown hair, dark blue eyes, slenderly 
built, very plainly but neatly dressed, 
modest and retiring to diffidence. The 
interview terminated agreeably to both 
parties, including an agreement between 
us that she should continue her contri- 
butions and correspondence. 

In the early part of the summer of 
1863, she wrote a poem entitled "Poca- 
hontas," which so impressed me with its 
bright thoughts and original concep- 
tions, that, with her approval, I for- 
warded it to the publishers of a chil- 
dren's magazine in Philadelphia, and in 
due time received a two dollar bill and a 
fifty cent fractional note. This I handed 
to her, and it was the first money she re- 
ceived directly for her literary efforts. 
Small as was this amount, it was ac- 
cepted with as much delight as she ex- 
perienced in after years, when her pro- 
ductions were eagerly demanded, and 
liberal cheques followed their accept- 
ance. 



22 BIOGRATHY OF 

In her early years Miss Hartwell wrote 
little else than poetry, some of which dis- 
closed the soul of genius , conspicuously 
and w^hich afterward shone in her liter- 
ary work; but believing she would find 
more popular favor in the line of her am- 
bition, I advised her to apply herself to 
prose, and especially to ''story-telling." 

Among her earlier poems, I have be- 
fore me a copy of "The Voice," (then 
published by the writer) for December, 
1863, containing a poem entitled 'The 
Broken Hearted," by Mary Hartwell; 
also a copy of "The Newark (O.) Amer- 
ican," bearing date July 8, 1864, con- 
taining a touching tribute "To Ira M. 
Marsh of Company H, 31st O. V. L, 
who was killed at the battle of Ressacca, 
Georgia, May 16, 1864, with whom she? 
was intimately acquainted. Her first 
story was published in "The American," 
March 25, 1864, entitled "The Hospital 
Nurse," and evinced the spirit of a suc- 
cessful story wTiter. 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 23 

Miss Hartwell was uniformly of a 
bright and happy disposition; but there 
were times when poverty and her en- 
vironment griped her, and, so obstructed 
the path of her aspirations that she 
would feel, and give expression to, bit- 
ter reflections and sadness. 

In a personal letter which I received 
from her March i6, 1864, giving evi- 
dence that she had met with some un- 
happ}^ experiences, she said, "I am 
crossed and thwarted at every turn. I 
walk in darkness, and the gloom over- 
whelms me. If there is a God, why am 
I given these desires to fly, and then 
have my wings clipped? Has He given 
me life, only to be cast down and tram- 
pled in the mud?" 

The reader, I trust, will pardon me if 
I give a brief extract from my reply, a 
copy of which I have preserved to this 
day. 

Newark, Ohio, March 17, 1864. 
"I reply to yours of yesterday because I have 



24 BIOGRAPHY OF 

the time and inclination. I am glad you tell ms 
so frankly the feelings you entertain, even if 
they are agnostic and pessimistic. I will not 
undertake to mark out any dogmatic Christian 
course for you. There is within each heart 
that beats for a higher and purer life a monitor 
directing, — a star in the East showing the way 
. . . I only wish to say, you should not pre- 
sume to speak so lightly of the Divine Being, or 
dispute His agency in the world or your own 
life, because you cannot have every pebble re^ 
moved from your path. You say, 'His hand has 
not lifted me up, but has cast me down and 
heaped ashes on me. I must climb up, and if 
I reach the top I must ascribe it to Providence!' 
"Now, because your wisdom fails tO' compre- 
hend the use of trials, or how they may be for 
your ultimate good, you reject the workings of 
a higher power. May it not be that you need 
this discipline to develop that strength of char- 
acter you require to lift you up, to pull you 
through difficulties awaiting you in your ca- 
reer? We must be patient, and let the good we 
recognize be the door-way to let into our lives 
things heavenly and divine, if happiness attend 
our success. Sincerely you frriend, 

"M. L. W." 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 25 

This much is given in order to show 
something of the workings of Miss 
Hartwell's mind and the influences t(5 
which she was subjected at this time. 
Now, because it is germane, as well as 
for its pathos and appropriate sentiment, 
I introduce a poem which she wrote in 
1867, — three years later. Its length is 
excusable because of its evident self-ref- 
erence: 

REBUKED. 

A suns€t view, a spreading land, 

The girl could from that stile command. 

She put the basket out of hand. 

With brows as dark as brooding elf, 
She leant, a slender weary ®elf. 
Against the fence's jutting shelf. 

The blood upon her finger-tips 

Had oozed through berries' bruised lips; 

Her eyes were blank with some eclipse. 

"I know the meaning of to be, 
Much else has not been granted me; 
I hate this life! I will be free!" 



26 BIOGRAPHY OF 

She looked along the purpling sky. 
The soul of genius in her eye; 
Then threw the blanky mantle by. 

Oh, tints and glows of dying day, 
We never feel what thou wouldst say. 
That thus the claimed may pass away. 

A voice came in from all around — 
Was centered to one silent bound — 
God's voice hath never need of sound. 

She felt the spell of Majesty; 

"I will that thou should'st toil for Me; 

I labored once beyond the sea. 

"My wounds have borne their crimson fruit, 
Whose seeds must in each heart take root. 
Be like Me, — wounded; like Me — mute." 

The girl her sad rebuked face 

Raised from the crumbling stile, to trace 

In lighted clouds His robes of grace. 

She took her heavy basket up; 
Her heart was like a lily cup. 
Dew-filled, whereof might others sup. 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 27 

*'0n God's good time," she said, "wait I, 
For He will shape my destiny; 
His gifts can never buried lie. 

"I have been pitiful with pride. 
He leads me; I am by His side. 
I will be meek — I will abide." 




CHAPTER TWO. 



"Genius cannot always be imprisoned; She will 
burst the doors and flash her splendors on the 
world." 



Miss Hartwell Enters Granville Female 
Seminary. 

Miss Hartwell's energies were now 
strenuously directed towards the ways 
and means of securing a more thorough 
education. She felt this necessity so 
deeply that the subject was scarcely ever 
out of her mind. Without money and, 
as yet, few friends, young and inexperi- 
enced, she could see no door-wiay open! 
to her longing desire. Yet in her impul- 
sive, determined way, she said: 

"It must be! I feel it as essential to 
mind as bread and meat to the body." 
Up to 1865, she had received only such 
educational advantages as the public 



30 BIOGRAPHY OF 

schools of that day and her Hmited spare 
time and candle-light afforded. 

The Granville, Ohio, Female College 
was at this time one of the best con- 
ducted and most popular educational in- 
stitutions in the state, and was under 
the management of Prof. W. P. Kerr. 
The writer took occasion to inforui 
Prof. Kerr of Miss Hartwell's worth 
and ambition; and her foster father. 
Judge Green (now an octogenarian, and 
citizen of Battle Creek, Mich.) person- 
ally interested himself in her behalf. He 
called upon President Kerr, and as his 
own daughter would enter the school at 
the same time, he made an arrangement 
by which Miss Hartwell should be given 
a four-years' course at the expense of 
the instituion, until such time as she 
could liquidate the debt by her Own ef- 
forts^*-the institution in the mean time 
being protected by a life-insurance pol- 
icy. This custom had in other cases 
been adopted for the purpose of assist- 



MARY HAJRTWELL CATHERWOOD 31 

ing those who came well recommended. 

Miss Hartwell's studious habits and 
close application resulted in the comple- 
tion of a four-years' course in three 
years. She not only did this, but later, 
by her own exertions, paid the debt she 
had incurerd in so short a time, that, 
upon receipt of the last and final pay- 
ment. Dr. Kerr wrote her a very com- 
plimentary letter, in which he said she 
had done better, and paid her debt more 
promptly, than any one educated at the 
institution upon that plan. She was 
graduated with honors, but generously 
relinquished the valedictory to a much 
esteemed schoolmate. The Granville 
Female College with its beautiful cam- 
pus was sold in 1902 to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and is now occupied 
as an old ladies' home. 

During her college years Miss Hart- 
well was burdened with solicitude for 
her sister Roxana and her little brother 
Marcus. In 1867 the writer took Rox- 



32 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ana to Cincinnati, placing her in care 
of the captain of a steamer bound for 
New Orleans; there she was met by a 
friend, and by him placed on a 
steamer for Galveston, where she ar- 
rived safely, was received by her great 
aunt, Mrs. Roxana Harrold, and found 
a pleasant home. Nothing could induce 
the grandparents at Hebron to part 
with the boy, and he remained with 
them until he was twenty-one years of 
age. 

The following letter gives further in- 
formation of those whose welfare the 
subject of this biography had in her 
thoughts and affections: 

Latoiurell Falls, Oregon, July 29, 1903. 
Mr. M. L. Wilson: 

Dear Old Friend — I can hardly find words t(j 
express the surprise and pleasure your letter 
gave me. I suppose my dear sister has told 
you of the death of the great-aunt and unci© to 
whom I was sent when you took me to Cincin- 
nati on my way to New Orleans and Galveston. 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 33 

We afterward removed to San Francisco, where 
I met and was married to Mr. J. T. Smith. Soon 
afterward we came to Oregon. We now have a 
beautiful island home, on the border of tne 
Columbia River, near this village. . . . My 
brother made his home with us for a few year^ 
past, but now has a residence of his own. 
Sincerely yours, 
ROXANA HARTWELL SMITH. 

Of a naturally devotional disposition 
and a devout admirer of the beautiful 
and sublime, it could not but be, that 
notwithstanding her previous want of 
faith, a religious vein should now assert 
itself in Miss Hartwell during the asso- 
ciations of her college life. While at- 
tending the Granvile school, which was 
under the directory of the Presbyterian 
Church, she united with that denomina- 
tion; and it was here, in 1867, she wrote 
the poem already given. 

On the completion of her college 
course, and in possession of her diploma, 
Miss Hartwell realized that she had not 
yet finished her education, but that she 



34 BIOGRAPHY OF 

had only taken one more step on the 
iip-reaching ladder of her ambition. She 
was impressed with the fact that grad- 
uates of our educational institutions 
have only made the necessary prepara- 
tion for matriculation in the World's 
University. On that Commencement 
day's closing exercises of 1868, she 
stood upon the rugged cliffs of Parnas- 
sus, facing a busy throng into which she 
must enter, and alone carve her way to 
fame and fortune, if they were ever to be 
her's. Confronting her was a debt of' 
eight hundred dollars. How was she to 
meet the ocean tide of life with so frail 
a barque? To a heart less strong there 
might have been faltering and failure; 
but to one who had already acquired 
courage from the buffeting of earlier 
days, and who had overcome difficulties 
from her infancy, the heart-beats only 
came the quicker and the purpose only 
grew the stronger. 

After a few weeks, during which she 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 35 

devoted her time to some literary work, 
and to the pleasures of home-life with 
the family of Judge Green (with whom 
it had been her custom to spend part of 
her vacation days during her college 
course), Miss Hartwell, with her room- 
mate. Miss Anna Hoff, through the in- 
strumentality of Mr. William Lyon, a: 
member of the School Board, secured 
positions as teachers in the public 
schools of Granville. Dr. W. C. Davies, 
who was Superintendent of the schools 
at that time speaks in especially high 
praise of Miss Hartwell's scholastic qual- 
ifications, and of her social and literary 
accomplishments. Judge Swartz, of 

Newark, Ohio, says he became quite 
well acquainted with Miss Hartwell from 
being one of a class in German to which 
she belonged. 'The characteristics," he 
says, "which impressed him most 
strongly, were her wonderful memory, 
vivacity, and charming manner as a con- 
versationalist, commanding both atten- 



36 BIOGRAPHY OF 

tion and respect." Mr. Frederick Clat- 
worthy, now of Evanston, Illinois, re- 
lates that he was a student of Denison 
University, contemporaneous with Miss 
Hartwell's attendance at the ''Lower 
Sem.", and says: 'The Granville Fe- 
male College never graduated a 
brighter, truer, or more aspiring girl 
than Mary Hartwell. She was full of 
that kind of lofty ambition which, to the 
observing, always gives promise of a 
successful life. A splendid example she 
was for boys and girls who, despite early 
bereavements and disadvantages, re- 
solve to win by character, ambition and 
industry." 

After the expiration of the school- 
year in Granville, Miss Hartwell and 
Miss Hoff accepted similar positions iri 
the public schools of Danville, Illinois, 
the former devoting her leisure hours to 
newspaper correspondence and other lit- 
erary work. 

In the meantime, Miss Cornelia Hart- 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 37 

well her father's sister, had been 
married to Mr. Allen T. Cather- 
wood, of Hoopeston, Illinois, and 
another sister of her father, now Mrs. 
Hattie Devolt, resided there; and it was 
while Mary was on a visit to her aunts 
that she made the acquaintance of her 
future husband. 

In 1873, Miss Hartwell made a trip to 
Galveston, Texas, for the purpose of 
visiting Mrs. Harrold (her great-aunt) 
and her sister Roxana. But it is as well 
to let the letter she writes to her fostef 
sister, Mrs. Seba Virginia Taylor, tell of 
this. Her letter is dated Galveston, 
Texas, February 14: 

I have been here some time, and shall return 
by way of Mississippi River. I came down here 
by rail, via Mobile. My impressions of the re- 
finement and culture of society here would not 
be pleasant reading. My trip, however, was 
sujp'erb. . . . Have been down toi the beach, 
and collected many beautiful shells. O, Verge, 
nothing can describe the sea! I lie awake every 



38 BIOGRATHY OF 

night looking at long strips of it, glittering in 
the moonlight, until I fall asleep. . . . This 
is an awfully expensive place toi live in. I will 
not try to enumerate the various expenses, but 
it is enough to ruin a poor man to pitch his tent 
here. My sister Roxy is so improved you would 
hardly know her. . . . 

Sincerely your friend, 

MARY. 

After returning North, Miss Hartwell 
wrote many short articles, chiefly stories 
for children; and subsequently going to 
New York, she wrote for "LesHe's" and 
other Eastern publications, making her 
home, for most of the time, at Newberg- 
on-the-Hudson. Sometime later she 
was induced to go to Cincinnati, where 
she wrote for the ''Ladies' Repository," 
and "Golden Hours." But here, too, 
her letter to her friend, Mrs. Taylor, 
will best give an account of her doings: 

17 Smith Street, Cincinnati, O., 
July 9, 1875. 
Dear Verge — I suppose you think me a wretch 
for my neglect, but I am not. I think of you, 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 39 

if I do not write you. You see I have such a 
busy life I can't keep up correspondence except 
with my publishers and "my boy." My sister is 
now in San Francisco. Miss Osborne and I 
came here in May. She edits "Golden Hours," 
while I write for it and for New York publica-* 
tions, and receive many compliments from New 
York editors. Do you see my second book, "Be- 
fore I die," now running in "Hearth and 
Home?" 

How are the grandfather and mothers Conine 
and Green? I wonder if all those good old folks 
have forgotten me? MARY. 

Miss Hartwell's success with her chil- 
dren's stories, and stimulated by the ad-^ 
vice of friends, determined her to de- 
vote her talents and energies to the pro- 
duction of matter for more advanced 
readers. In this she was persevering 
with her usual success, when the "panic" 
of 1873 to 1877 drove many pubhshers 
out of business, among them some of 
those who gave her most employment. 
The result was that she was compelled 
to find new mediums for her mental ef- 



40 BIOGRAPHY OF 

forts. Time was passing, but in its on- 
ward flight it always had some promis- 
ing event in store for her, and she cheer- 
fully accepted a lifetime engagement. 

Her Marriage. 

The acquaintance which Miss Hart- 
well had made while visiting her rela- 
tives in Illinois resulted in a life-attach- 
ment; and on December 2y, 1877, she 
was happily married to Mr. James Steele 
Catherwood, the ceremony taking place 
at the house on the Perkins farm near 
the village of Hoopeston, Illinois. 
Shortly afterward they went to Fairfield, 
Indiana, where Mr. Catherwood's bus- 
iness demanded his attention. While 
here, Mrs. Catherwood again remem- 
bers her girlhood friend to whom she re- 
lates her changed circumstances. Un- 
der dajte of February 17, 1878, she 
writes: 

We came directly here, where Mr. Cather- 
wood was in business, and we now expect to 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 41 

remove to Indianapolis in about six months. . . 
My sister Roxy now lives in Oregon. When in 
Cincinnati I met our old schoolmate, M — T — . 
She was quite polished and accomplished, but 
restless and anxious to find independent work. 
I thought of the difference between us at school, 
when she had everything and I nothing, and 
now I with plenty and she with &o little. 
With all the old school-day love, 

MARY. 

Remaining but a few months in Fair- 
iield, Mr, and Mrs. Catherwood removed 
to Indianapolis, where better opportun- 
ities were presented for promoting her 
literary interests. In addition to her 
other literary work, she accepted the 
position of dramatic critic for the "Re- 
view," edited and published by Mr. Geo. 
C. Harding. She took an active interest 
in the organization of literary societies 
and in stimulating the public pulse along 
practical and profitable Hues. In this 
way she became widely known, and 
formed the acquaintance of many of the 
brightest minds, deepest thinkers, and 



42 . BIOGRAPHY OF 

popular writers of the country. Hon. 
Benjamin S. Parker, who at that time 
filled the office of American Consul at 
Sherbrook, Canada, met Mrs. Cather- 
wood here, and was pleased to take a 
personal interest in her welfare and as- 
pirations. He invited her to pay him- 
self and family a visit at her earliest con- 
venience. 

It was not long afterward that she 
availed herself of this invitation, and 
while enjoying the hospitality of this 
family she had the satisfaction of wit- 
nessing the celebration of ''St. John's 
Day," July 17, 1884. The fine display 
of this unique and attractive event pro- 
vided her with much information for her 
contemplated work, "The Romance of 
Dollard." In the procession was a 
"float" representing Dollard and his six- 
teen men, and it was this which sug^ 
gested to her the idea of portraying this 
character in this story. She spent somd 
months in the Dominion, studying char- 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 43 

acters and scenes which she subsequent- 
ly utilized, portraying representative 
personages, and enlivening her work 
with historic incidents of recognized ac- 
curacy. 

Among those whose agreeable ac- 
quaintance and friendship she was fortu- 
nate in securing in Indianapolis was Mr. 
James Whitcomb Riley, the poet. He 
highly valued her friendship, and al- 
ways retained an interest in her person- 
ally and in her writings; from him, she 
used to say, she gained much informa- 
tion and encouragement. 

During her residence in Indianapolis 
Mrs. Catherwood wrote a number of 
sketches for Lippincott's Magazine, and 
one for the Atlantic Monthly. She was 
especially gratified when she had gained 
recognition by one of the high-grade 
magazines, and thereby her ambition 
was greatly stimulated. 

It was hard to dispel from her mind 
the consciousness of the few advantages 



44 BIOGRAPHY OF 

for improvement afforded to her brother 
still in Hebron. So while Mr. and Mrs. 
Catherwood were making their home in 
Indianapolis, she made a visit to He- 
bron and induced her brother to returri 
with her, and for some time he was pro- 
vided with advantages he stood greatly 
in need of. He subsequently went 
West, joining his sister Roxana in Ore- 
gon. 

In 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Catherwood 
again changed their place of residence 
from Indianapolis to Hoopeston, Illi- 
nois, to which place her many subse- 
quent years of residence and remarkable 
talents have given national fame. 

Mrs. Catherwood's vitalized sensibil- 
ities would sometimes see her charac^ 
ters imaged before her as in the mirror 
of her mind and often before describing 
them. 

It is a recognized fact in art, that, be- 
fore the picture or sculptured stone has' 
taken outward form it must be wrought 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 45 

within by the genius of the soul. On 
one occasion Mr. Catherwood said to 
her: 

"Where did you get the character o5 
LeRosignol, the dwarf-girl, in 'The 
Lady of Fort St. John?' " 

''\¥hy/' she replied, looking with that 
straight and earnest gaze which she had 
when wishing to express her idea plainly, 
'T was sitting here and she came into the 
hall and w^alked right up to my side; she 
stood right there," pointing with her fin- 
ger and out-stretched arm ''on the regis- 
ter." 

Mrs. Catherwood Goes Abroad. 
In 1 89 1, taking her httle daughter 
wdth her, Mrs. Catherwood went abroad 
for the purpose of collecting material for 
a new story. In her journeyings she vis- 
ited England, Scotland, France and Ger- 
many. This journey occupied some 
months, and was fruitful in gleanings of 
historical matter which she afterward 
utilized in her works. 



46 BIOGRATHY OF 

During the Exposition in Chicago, in 
1893, a Congress of Authors was assem- 
bled, at which Mr. George W. Cable pre- 
sided. He delivered an address on ''The 
Uses and Methods of Novel Writing," 
and was followed by Mrs. Catherwood in 
an elaborate paper on 'The Technic of 
Fiction, or Form and Condensation in 
Novel Writing." These were occasions 
she highly enjoyed, not only for the lit- 
erary, but also for the social advantages 
it afforded her. Her circle of friends was 
constantly widening and it is no strain- 
ing of the truth to say that among the Ht- 
erati of the country few writers held a 
higher place in public favor than did 
Mrs. Catherwood, even at this time. But 
she found it necessary many times to de- 
cline opportunities and invitations on ac- 
count of her domestic duties and literary 
work. To say that she delighted in gen- 
eral housework would not accord with 
her positive expressions, and yet it is 
well known to her intimate acquaint- 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 47 

ances that she was thoroughly compet- 
ent, and when these duties devolved 
upon her, they were discharged with 
punctilious efficiency from the culinary 
to all other departments ot domestic 
work. 

Her Loyalty to Friends. 
In reply to a letter she received from 
Judge Green, Mrs. Catherwood writes: 

Hoopeston, Illinois, December 7, 1888. 
My Dear Friend — 

I have never forgotten your kindness to me 
when I was a very miserably situated girl. I 
would very much like to see you all again, 
though I am afraid I cannot have that pleasure 
this winter, as I am just now boiling my' notes 
down to the beginning of my next book which 
will be my winter's work. Can not Mrs. Green 
and you come and make us a visit? . . . 

One of the most enjoyable trips partic- 
ipated in by Mrs. Catherwood, with her 
husband and daughter, was in August, 
1889; and as her letter speaking of it, 
written to Mrs. Taylor, contains other 
matter of her personal experience, I give 



48 BIOGRATHY OF 

a liberal extract from it. It is dated 
Hoopeston, III, August 12: 

I have a little while to rest before the book 
proofs of "Tonty" come in. We are starting, 
next Monday, on another trip through Canada. 
Expect this time to go as far as Grand Pier, in 
Nova Scotia. We go down the St. Lawrence by 
steamer from Kingston (Old Fort Fontenac), 
direct to Quebec; thence to Ste. Anna de Beau- 
pre; thence up the Saganaw River through New 
Brunswick. 

I read two chapters of "Tonty" before the His- 
torical Society of Chicago last month, and there 
met Mollie Fargus and her husband. She was 
anxious to have me meet at her hous-e others 
of the old Granville girls living in the city, but 
my time was limited, and I could not promise. 
I also, on another visit to Chicago, gave parlor 
readings from "Bollard," and was pleased to 
meet Miss Harriet Hosmer, the sculptor. We 
must sit down together and have a comfortable 
talk sometime. . . . MARY. 

In 1894 Mrs. Catherwood again went 
abroad, accompanied by her husband, 
their daughter and Miss Palmer. She 
had received and accepted a commission 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 49 

from The Century Company to visit 
France, and make a particular study of 
the Hfe associations of Joan of Arc. The 
papers on the subject appeared in The 
Century Magazine, contemporaneously 
with Mark Twain's series on the same 
subject in Harper's Magazine. Her ex- 
perience is best told in the preface of her 
book, 'The Days of Jeanne D'Arc:" 

"This book is tlie outcome of many months 
of patient study and collection of material in 
America; the rejection of much of this in Paris; 
of journeys over the Maid's country, following 
her path from Domremy to Rouen, in voitures, 
in carts, and on foot; of careful study of the 
fifteenth century, — and, at the risk of creating a 
smile, I will confess it is the result of a Divine 
hint." 

While on this tour she contributed a 
very practical article to The Atlantic 
Monthly on 'Trench Roads and Road 
Makers," which elicited special consider- 
ation. This article was copied or refer- 
red to by the press in many sections of 
the country. 



50 BIOGRAPHY OF 

The party upon this tour had many 
interesting experiences in their coming 
in contact with the people whose man- 
ners and habits had so little changed 
since the days of Jeanne De Arc. In some 
instances where, contiguous to the fam- 
ily living room was the abode of do- 
mestic animals, no cleansing properties 
appeared to have been utilized since the 
house was first inhabited. But nothing 
of conditions, toil or discomforts could 
deter Mrs. Catherwood from closely in- 
specting, and jotting down her points 
and specifications. She might be deeply 
absorbed for a few moments but after- 
ward would turn, comprehending the lu- 
dicrous features of her companions — an- 
swer the joking remarks — and get as 
much fun from the situation as any of 
the party. She spoke the French lan- 
guage fluently and the interesting inci- 
dents often called for the exercise of her 
decided characteristics and the fun-lov- 
ing disposition of her husband and 
daughter. 



CHAPTER THREE. 



We live in the lives of those we make better.— 
George Eliot. 



For more than twenty years, Mr. Jas. 
Steele Catherwood has been prominently 
identified with the business and pro- 
gressive interests of Hoopeston and vi- 
cinity, and for over fourteen years a 
member of the firm of Wallace & Cath- 
erwood. During the first year of Presi- 
dent Cleveland's administration (1885) 
Mr. Catherw^ood was appointed Post- 
master of Hoopeston, which position he 
creditably filled for several years. 

In Mr. Catherwood's happy marital 
relations, in his business and political in- 
terests he always found responsive and 
helpful encouragement from Mrs. Cath- 
erwood; while upon his part no sacrifice 
was too great which could in any way 
promote the pleasure or success of his 



52 BIOGRAPHY OF 

devoted companion. So it was but nat- 
ural that her best work was done after 
her marriage. 

In 1899, the demand for her work was 
such that it was found necessary, not 
only that she might be in closer touch 
with her publishers, but also provide 
more desirable educational facilities for 
her daughter, for Mrs. Catherwood tO' 
establish a temporary home in Chicago. 
To this her husband cheerfully gave ap- 
proval; but as his business connections 
made it impracticable for him to accom- 
pany her, he was obliged to content him- 
self with weekly visits or oftener to the 
city. For the first winter, Mrs. Cather- 
wood, taking her daughter with her, 
took rooms at The Beach Hotel, sending 
Hazel to school at Lake Forest. The 
following year she changed to The Plaza 
Building in Lincoln Park and placed her 
daughter in The Young Ladies' School 
at Kirtland. Finding that it would be 
desirable to secure more ample and com- 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 53 

modious apartments she established her 
home at 4852 Washington Avenue, 
which remained her city home to the 
time of her death. 

In the meantime Hazel had entered 
the Kenwood department of the Chicago 
University, and Mrs. Catherwood's 
niece, Miss Naomi Catherwood, who 
was taking musical instruction, became 
one of the family. Here, with her busy 
brain and pen Mrs. Catherwood was 
very happily situated and enjoyed the 
visits of her husband, with whom she 
ioved to talk of her work, and whenever 
she had opportunity read to him what 
she had written. 

During the warm months the family 
always took their outing to some cool 
summer resort, usually Mackinac Island 
and vicinity, where invigorating recrea- 
tion, sports and games supplied that va- 
riety of mental and physical diversity 
Mrs. Catherwood so much needed and 
heartily enjoyed. She took much pleas- 



54 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ure rowing and fishing upon the lake 
and her enthusiasm broke out in raptur- 
ous glee when she would take upon her 
line a large fish. She would turn sar- 
castically to her husband and say, "You 
tell me how to fish will you!" or to her 
daughter with "Now Hazel you need not 
think you can teach your mother how to 
fish!" The hills around would reverber- 
ate with rippling laughter, and should 
still retain sacred memories in their lofty 
cliffs and flash them on the rippling wat- 
ers below. 

The strenuosity of her disposition was 
shown not only in close application to 
her work, but also in the zest and earn- 
estness in out-door sports and games. 
She played with as much vigor and spirit 
as she worked and her vivacity in society 
secured to her many warm personal 
friends. 

Few writers, if any, gave more con- 
scientious thought to the subject in 
hand, or worked with greater persistence 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 55 

or more tireless energy than did Mrs. 
Catherwood. She put her whole heart 
and mind into all the surroundings of 
her theme as if she were living amidst 
the scenes she represents and felt the 
heart-beat of every moving figure. When 
expostulated with, by her husband and 
friends for not taking more rest, she 
would use the old adage, ''I would rather 
wear out than rust out." Her accom- 
plishments and influence were rapidly 
growing as her energies and genius were 
liberated into ever enlarging spheres. In 
her social relations as well as in the work 
of her pen, she aspired to be useful and 
to give genuine happiness to others. She 
was for many years, as her time would 
permit, an active worker in the Univer- 
salist church and Sunday School of 
Hoopeston, and in the community stim- 
ulated social and literary organization 
for mental improvement. 

Two children had been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Catherwood — the first being a 



56 BIOGRATHY OF 

boy, who died in infancy. Later a 
daughter was born, November 7, 1884, 
who Hved to be a light and comfort to 
her parents. In her book entitled 
"Mackinac and other stories," Mrs. 
Catherwood has inscribed this dedica- 
tion, "To my daughter Hazel, the com- 
panion of all my travels." 

The Mary Hartwell Catherwood Club. 

In 1895, there was organized a literary 
society entitled The Mary Hartwell 
Catherwood Club of Hoopeston, Illinois, 
On the second year of its existence Mrs. 
Catherwood was chosen its President, 
which position she held up to the time 
when she found it expedient to estab- 
lish her temporary home in Chicago. 

November 7, 1902, a banquet was giv- 
en by this organization, at the home of 
Mrs. Charles W. Warner, in honor of 
the seventeenth birthday of Hazel, Mrs. 
Catherwood's daughter. On this occa- 



lURY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD bl 

sion Mr. Dale Wallace, the business part- 
ner of Mr. Catherwood, read a very in- 
teresting paper, which the following is a 
brief extract: 

"I have been requested to contribute a briei: 
article covering the career of Mary Hartwell 
Catherwood trom childhood to the presnt mo- 
ment. I comply cheerfully, for the subject is an 
interesting one." 

The paper then briefly recounts the story of 
her birth and early struggles as has already 
been noted and continues as follows: 

"Poverty develops genius. Wealth begets in- 
dolence. Show me a child born in luxury, and 
I will show you, as a rule, a creature of ease, 
laxity and languor. Ambition is deadened and 
energy is not required. If Mary HartwelFs 
father had left her in an independent financial 
condition, the world might have been deprived 
of her splendid genius. 

At the age of ten she was given a home with 
her Grandfather Thompson at Hebron, Ohio; 
and placed in the public schools of that village. 
At the age of fourteen, being thrown on her 
own resources to obtain proper clothing, she 
was teaching school in order to prepare the way 
for entrance into the Female College of Gran- 



58 BIOGRATHY OF 

ville, Ohio. Here she subsequently entered and 
completed a four-years' course in three years. 
When she retired from that institution she was 
eight hundred dollars in debt. Her uncle, Cy- 
rus Hartweil, hearing of this agreed that if she 
would pay this debt in four years by ber own 
efforts, he would make her a present of five 
hundred dollars. She did it. So did he. 

While still a little girl in pinafores, and pig- 
tails down her back, she contributed poems to 
the local papers in Newark, O. She loved the 
wild and weird in nature, and often roamed in 
the woods alone to dream. Like Joan of Arc, 
she would hear voices and songs and rippling 
laughter, and the verses would come tO' her 
without effort. An elderly gentleman of rare 
prescience remarked that while her poems were 
very beautiful, her field lay in prose story tell- 
ing, and advised her to try it. Then she began 
"seeing things" as Riley says. The ambition 
implanted in her being by the eldei Hartweil 
took entire possessioa of her, and tbe future 
unrolled before her. She forcshadov/ed her des- 
tiny. She believed her career had been unveil- 
ed. If vigor and vim, tireless energy, unceasiUi^ 
perseverance, economy and privations would en- 
able her to win, the indomitable determination 
had her within its grasp, and she started on thb 
voyage, determined to never cease until she had 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOGD 59 

reached the goal. Did she win, my friends? Did 
the little homeless orphan, who mastered a 
four-years' course in college in three years by 
working nights, Saturdays and holidays — did 
she win? I say to you that Mary Hartwell 
Catherwood's name will be emblazoned in glit- 
tering gold on the scroll of fame long after you 
and I are dead and forgotten. 

She wrote a short serial for Frank Leslie — 
"The Mill Scott Million," and received her first 
check. Oh, the joy of that first check! The 
happiness wrapped up in that first commercial 
recognition of her brain work was far and 
away beyond the size of her check. Wasn't 
that a ray of sunshine through the rift of 
clouds that had hovered over her from the day 
of her mother's death? Then she began con- 
tributing to the lesser magazines^ — Lippincott's, 
Wide Awake, Golden Hours, Wood's House- 
hold, Youth's Companion — all short stories. 
The Wide Awake Company published four of 
her short juveniles that met with immediate 
popularity and have since become classics. 
Then she was requested to contribute to a mag- 
azine called "Outing." She demanded a deposit 
of $25 in advance, which was cheerfully com- 
plied with. She forwarded the story and in due 
course it was returned, scratched, interlined 



60 BIOGRAPHY OF 

and obliterated, with a request to make some 
alterations. The demand was unjust, end she 
knew it. But her carefully prepared manu- 
script was practicaly ruined. She refused to 
comply with their demand and also retained 
the retainer, which was entirely satisfactory to 
the publishers. Some time later they request- 
ed her to submit them another, and this one, 
proving exactly in harmony with their ideas, 
they accepted and remitted promptly, but de- 
ducted the $25 which they had advanced on the 
other article Then there was an earthquake, 
but it was not destructive. 

As. Mrs. Catherwood is present this evening I 
feel perfectly safe in announcing that she was 
born in 18 — 47. Thirty years later she was 
married in the house on the Perkins farm, 
northwest of this city. Then a few years later 
came her baby boy, who remained to bless the 
union but a moment, then passed on to the 
higher life. It was during this period of sor- 
row following that she conceived "The Ro- 
mance of Bollard," in the preparation of which 
she lived for a time in Canada, and was about 
three years in getting it ready for the publish- 
ers. I doubt if there is a person in this audi- 
ence who knows that the publishers to whom 
she first submitted that beautiful histOTical ro- 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 61 

mance declined it, but such is the fact. Har- 
pers returned it. It was then for the first time 
that Mrs. Catherwood faltered by the wayside. 
Her heart was cracking and breaking uio into 
bits, and she was thoroughly discouraged. And 
it was here that her husband came in with on.8 
of his beautiful songs: "Never Give Up the 
Ship, Mary," and said "Go down to New York 
and beard the lion in his deji," and in a tew 
days she was in the office of the Century, 
proud, independent and defiant, but quaking 
inwardly. She submitted the work to Mr. Gil 
der, the editor, who inquired as to the nature 
of it. 

"It is a serial — an historical romance." 

"V[y dear madam," exclaimed the kind cia 
man, "don't you know that we can't use tha^ 
class of work here in New York?" 

She arose, and there was a glow of potent 
fervor in her voice. 

"Mr. Gilder," she said, "will yon do me the 
favor of reading that manuscript?" 

"I will send it out to our regular reader and 
when it is returned then I will read it. But 
there is just as much chance of your being 
struck by lighting as there is of the acceptance 
of your work and publication as you desire it. 
Why, we have here in our safe enough manu- 
script of that nature to last us five years." 



62 BIOGRAPHY OF 

Richard Watson Gilder had been up against 
propositions of various kinds in his long expe- 
rience in the publishing business, but he did 
not know Mrs. Catherwood. 

"I have no manuscripts to lie in your safe 
for five years," replied Mrs. Catherwood. "I 
want this published while I am living, and not 
later than next October or November." 

"It will be several days," said Mr. Gilder, 
"before we can give you a reply; you need not 
be at the trouble and expense of remaining in 
New York. Leave me your address and I will 
write you." 

"I will remain in New York, Mr. Gilder," she 
said, "until you accept or reject that work." 
With this she departed for the time. In a few 
days Mr. Gilder notified her that the "lightning 
had struck," advising her to call at the o^3ice 
and get her cheque. 

That publication elevated her into a con- 
spicuous position among the literary people of 
the United States, and the demand upon her 
pen from all the leading publishing houses was 
so great she was able to only partially meet 
it. She was called the Parkman of the West, 
and as Francis Parkman was the most famous 
historical writer and romancer of the past gen- 
eration, no greater compliment could have been 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 63 

bestowed, upon her. She received a personal 
letter of congratulation from that eminent man, 
complimenting her accuracy for detail and cor- 
rectness of data, and expressing a wish to make 
her acquaintance. "It is so rare," he remarAed, 
"in our latter day historical romances to^ find 
the historical facts so accurately portrayed." 
This was one of Mrs. Catherwood's most con- 
spicuous characteristics. Her descriptions are 
perfect and from nature. Her facts are derived 
from personal observation and contact. Her 
characters, with few exceptions, are real. We 
all love history, and when we can have it inter- 
spersed with fascinating romance we love it all 
the more. She loved to visit the ruins of the 
forgotten past and live over again in her im- 
agination the- tragedies and comedies enacted 
there. If there were an old hermit toi be found 
in the vicinity — Indian, Frenchman, English- 
man or American — she would spend hoursi with 
him, pulling historical chestnuts out of the 
coals with the tongs of retentive memory. And 
thus she broadened into the field which she has 
occupied for two decades without a succesisful 
rival. 

Seventeen years ago this night, Mrs, Presi- 
dent, the subject of this sketch was blessed b: 
the arrival of a daughter, and Hazel has indeed 



64 BIOGRAPHY OF 

proven a blessed comfort to her mother. We 
are celebrating the aniversary of that happy 
event. Cheerfulness, ambiticn, energy, deter- 
mination, all oame rushing back to her upon 
the advent of the little sunbeam. And then 
followed in due course some of the most re- 
markable productions of historical romance in 
the whole scope and range of American litera- 
ture. 

Did you know that Mrs. Catherwood in her 
earlier career contributed columns and columns 
of stories tO' various publications under a nom 
de plume? Do any of you remem^ter reading 
short fiction sketches written by one "Lew- 
trah?" the name Hartwell spelled backward? 
Did yon ever read the novel "A Woman in Ar- 
mor?" Mrs. Catherwood is not at ail proud ol 
that work. 

But from Tonty to Lazarre, the record is 
without a blemish. Lazarre is the last and 
greatest and brightest of the whole galaxy. It 
is the climax of her career. She may write 
another as good, but none better. * * * * 

Those of us who knew her best will remem- 
ber her not only for her literary attainments^ 
but also for her home accomplishments. As a 
wife, as a mother, as a neighbor, she was an 
exemplary character. There was no envy there. 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 65 

no jealousies, no bickerings. Because of her 
great renown as a gifted author, w© feel hon- 
ored to have been classed among her intimate 
friends. And our babies of a few years ago, 
who were her "Rosebuds" in the Sunday-school 
will some day be proud of that distinction. * * 
It required a struggle for Mary Hartwell 
Catherwood to give up her home and sever the 
friendly ties in this city. She was married 
here, her children were born in this city, and 
her little boy sleeps in Floral Hill. She loved 
the people, she loved the town, she loved the 
country. But she in early life mapped out her 
career, and she felt that she had not yet 
reached the zenith, and could not with the lim- 
ilied resources at her command. So she re- 
solved, very reluctantly, to leave us for a time, 
and climb the heighta of fame. She is alm<5St 
at the top, and when she reaches the summit 
she will come back to us, and when she comes 
we will all extend to her the glad hand and cor^ 
dial greeting of true friends. 

"In all my wanderings round this world of care 
In all my griefs— and God has given my share— 
I still have hopes my latest hours to crown, 
Amidst these humble bow'rs to lay me down; 
To husband out life's taper at the close, 
And keep the flame from wasting, by repose. 
I still have hopes, for pride attends us still, 
Amidst the friends to show my book-learn'd skill; 



BIOGRAPHY OF 

Around mj' fire an evening group to draw, 
And tell all I felt, and all I saw; 
And. as a hare, whom hounds and horns purs^ie, 
Pants to the place from whence at first she flew, 
I still have hopes, my long vexations past, 
Here to return - and die at home at last." 



In all her busy life, her wanderings 
and associations, Mrs. Catherwood 
never forgot those who were her friends 
in the days of her youthful struggles. 
Chief of these was Judge Green and his 
family. The following letter evinces her 
loyalty in this respect: 

4852 Washington Ave., Chicago^, 111., 
Nov. 19, 1901. 
Dear Father Green: 

Seba tells me that you have just passed your 
eightieth birthday, and I feel that you would 
not have full acknowledgement for all your 
good worlds in a long lifetime if I did not add 
my word. 

Do you remember riding with Seba and me 
to Pataskala one day? Meeting some one, you 
introduced me, saying, "This is my other 
daughter." I never forgot it, nor any of the 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 67 

other kind things that Mother Green and yon 
did for me. You have thought I forgot, be^ 
cause I live such a busy life; so many people 
make demands on my time, outside my own 
family — to which I always devote myself first. 

I was sorry, indeed, to hear of the death of 
Mother Green. I meant to go on purpose to 
see you both. The days rush by so fast; so 
many letters to write, soi many friends, so 
many engagements to meet, when I am not shut 
up from the world at my work, — ^these must 
plead for the apparent negligence. I do remem- 
ber and care for the friends of my early days. 

With much love and wishes for you many 
remaining happy days. 

Your (foster) daughter, 
MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD. 

Mrs. Catherwood sometimes yielded 
to solicitations, and gave readings be- 
fore literary societies in Chicago, In- 
dianapolis and elsewhere, but was oblig- 
ed to decline many urgent requests. 
While Mrs. Taylor, — her foster sister, — 
to whom she was much attached, was a 
resident of Union City, Indiana, an ef- 
fort was made by the literary societies of 



68 BIOGRAPHY OF 

that place to secure Mrs. Catherwood 
for a reading, but were unable to do so. 
A special meeting was then called, and 
designated "Mary Hartwell Catherwood 
Afternoon," at which Mrs. Taylor read 
a paper on "The Author of Lazarre." 
Her intimate acquaintance with Mrs. 
Catherwood from the time the young 
schoolteacher came to her father's house 
and she and Miss Hartwell entered 
Granville Female Seminary together, 
enabled her fully to justify the expecta- 
tions of her auditors, in her interesting 
reminiscence of "the author of Lazarre." 
Comparatively few of her acquaint- 
ances knew that Mrs. Catherwood was 
present at the trial of Czolgosz, the as- 
sassin of President McKinley. She se- 
cured a ticket of admission through 
some influential public officials, under 
an assumed name. While not condon- 
ing the great crime, her sympathies were 
deeply touched for the young criminal 
and for the civil and political conditions 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 69 

of the country which made such crimes 
possible. She saw in the case a tragic 
story which she was loth to relinquish 
the production. 




CHAPTER FOUR 



"That each bright act that's nobly done, 

Has its own part in moulding 
An image, fair as sculptured stone. 
Although beyond beholding." 



Notwithstanding her devotion to her 
home duties, social requirements, and 
the extensive correspondence with pub- 
Hshers and friends, Mrs. Catherwood 
found time for many deeds of benevo- 
lence and unostentatious usefulness. 

In adition to her earlier contributions 
to various publications, her children's 
stories, her travels in search of historic 
facts and data, she has produced vol- 
umes which will take their place beside 
the classic literature of the nineteenth 
century. 

'The Romance of Dollard," which 
was first published by The Century 
Company, attracted much attention, and 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 71 

reached its seventh edition in book form. 

This book contains a very compli- 
mentary preface by Mr. Francis Park- 
man, the Historian. Other works of 
acknowk'dged merit are: "The Story of 
Tonty," "The White Islander," "The 
Days of Jeanne D'Arc," "Heroes of the 
Middle West," "Dogberry Bunch," 
"Old Caravan Days," "Rocky Fork." 
"Secrets of Roseladies," "The Lady of 
Fort St. John," "Old Kaskaskie," "The 
Choice of St. Castine," "The Spirit of 
an Illinois Town," "Little Renault," 
"Bonny and Ben," "Mackinac and Lake 
Stories," "Spanish Peggy," and last, but 
not least, "Lazarre." 

The last-named work has had a won- 
derful sale, and is the result of the inter- 
est she felt in the early I^rench settlen 
of the New World. So strikingly did 
its dramatic features appeal to Mr. Otis 
Skinner, that he not only undertook its 
dramatization, but produced a play of 
such merit that it received high praise 



72 BIOGRAPHY OF 

from the press wherever it was pre- 
sented. 

Many years had now passed since the 
wTiter of this Biography had written to 
or heard from Mrs. Catherwood person- 
ally, and in March, 1902, he concluded 
to write her, reminding her of early inci- 
dents in her literary career, and mod- 
estly inquire if she had forgotten him. 

After some weeks he received the fol- 
lowing reply: 

My Dear Mr. Wilson: 

Do not think me an ingrate. I was so glad 
to hear from you, and had so often thought 1 
should like to- know where you were. But 
when your letter came I was in the Woman's 
Hospital undergoing a severe surgical opera- 
tion. Engagements crowded before I was 
really able to meet them, and I have scarcely 
gotten even with them yet. 

Just now, as the time approaches for our an- 
nual exodus north for the summer months, I 
am very much taken up with the play which 
Otis Skinner is bringing out with magnificent 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 73 

setting, for production in September. He read 
the play to me Sunday afternoon. I think he 
will make a fine Lazarre. 

Indeed I do remember that first money you 
put it in my way to earn, and that it bought 
shoes. I remember also several five dollar 
bills, and one sum of twenty dollars, which 
you loaned me on indetinite time, of your own 
motion while I was struggling through Gran- 
ville College. If I were to pay compound inter- 
est on the sum, it would swamp me. Have 
pity, therefore, and tell me how I may best 
straighten up long arrears. 

Our little daughter is seventeen years old 
and has just graduated from Kenwood Insti- 
tute (affiliated with the University of Chicago). 
I do not know where Annie Hoff (Mrs. Rob- 
erts) now is, a® I have not heard from her for 
a number of years. She married and removed 
West and so was cut off from her old friends. 
I am glad you can feel it was worth your 
while to help me in the start. I had such a 
pull that many a time I felt that I was willing 
to lay down to die, but got up again and went 
on. Now I believe I have the best publishers 
in the world and they with me believe that my 
new book (now begun), is going to be maturer 
than "Lazarre." 



74 BIOGRAPHY OF 

My sister and brother are now both in Ore- 
gon, in comfortable circumsUinces I have just 
buried in San Francisco the old aunt who took 
my sister in Galveston. For more than ten 
years she has been my charge. . . . What- 
ever sins are charged to my account, it shalV 
never be said I am ungrateful. 
Sincerely yours, 
MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD. 

In his response to this letter, the 
writer assured her that he had no finan- 
cial claim to present, and was more than 
compensated by the receipt of auto- 
graphed copies of her published works. 
In writing, July 25, 1902, from Dover 
County, Wisconsin, where, with her hus- 
band and daughter, she was taking her 
usual summer vacation, she says: 

"I am working here in my long out-door 
study, and playing between whiles. Otis Skin- 
ner has just written me that "the play" is all 
ready, and rehearsals will begin in the Grand 
Opera House in Chicago early in August. Mr. 
Catherwood, who is taking our daughter and 
making some visits in Illinois, will join me. 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 75 

with her about the fourth of August. It is like 
you to say I owe you nothing. I realize that 
no money payment could wipe out the debt I 
owe you. 

As always, with sincere gratitude and re- 
spect, 

MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD. 

The drama "Lazarre" was first pro- 
duced in the Opera House at Green Bay, 
Wisconsin, September 8, 1902, at which 
time Mrs. Catherwood was present and 
the next letter the writer received from 
her was dated 

4852 Washington Ave., Chicago, 
October 7, 1902. 
Dear Mr. Wilson: 

Your photograph just received, and I am 
both astonished and delighted to see how lit- 
tle you have changed. It is the same kind 
man who used to take an. interest in the lit- 
tle struggling school -girl. She has lately had 
some strange experiences; she has seen the 
children of her brain become flesh and blood, 
and theaters crowded to the doors to se-e 
thenL" 



76 BIOGRATHY OF 

The report of the first appearance of 
this play read as follows: 

"One of the most interesting events in dra- 
matic history was the first production of Otis 
Skinner's new play 'Lazarre/ based on Mrs 
Mary Hartwell Catherwood's romance of 'The 
Dauphin.' Not the least interested spectators 
in the large and fashionable audience were six 
Oneida Indians from the Oneida Reservation, 
including Shenandoah, the famous chief. Rev. 
J. W. Merrill, and Superintendent J. C. Hart, 
of the local Indian post. Another interested 
spectator was Mrs. Josephine Phillips, adopted 
daughter of the late Eleaser William®, — La- 
zarre, — ^the founder of the Indian mission here, 
and the alleged 'lost Dauphin' of France, — who 
is believed to have escaped from the temple in 
Paris, and to have grown up in this country 
among Mohawk and Oneida Indians." 

The success of "Lazarre," and the 
ready sale her book met in all parts of 
the country, was highly gratifying. The 
author's sky, even amidst her physical 
sufferings of the year, shone bright in 
the sun-light of her achievements and 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERV/OOD 77 

in the hope of the speedy attainment of 
her fondest ambition. She was now 
working up a new historical romance 
under the title of 'Tippicanoe," — to em- 
body incidents connected with the New 
Harmony Colony in Indiana, founded 
by Robert Dale Owen, Both she and 
her publishers believed that she would 
produce a work that would equal, if not 
surpass "Lazarre" in worth and popular- 
favor. She could not realize that her 
malady would have a fatal termination 
so soon, and continued to devote her 
mental and physical energies to the 
work in hand. Living in the glow of 
her fertile genius and in the warm at- 
mosphere of her happy family and social 
relations she was beaming in the happi- 
ness of present achievements and the 
glow of a hopeful future. 

''On one occasion previous to her last 
illness," says Mr. Catherwood, "as I was 
compelled to take a business trip West, 
just before my departure, Mary and I 



78 BIOGRAPHY OF 

took a drive of several hours. Althoiig] 
at the time her feet and ankles were 
painful from rheumatic trouble, she gave 
expression to her hopeful spirit by say 
ing, 'Never mind, daddy; by this time 
next year you can be with us all the 
time.' " When he returned from his 
journey after an absence of about three 
weeks Mrs. Catherwood was confined to 
her bed. A second operation was deem 
ed essential on account of cancerous 
growth and other complications. It was 
hoped that her vigorous constitution 
would withstand the severe nervous 
strain and that she might be spared a 
little longer to her friends; but it couk' 
not be. Her suffering at times was so 
great that her physicians were com- 
pelled to use opiates. Her patience and 
fortitude were remarkable but she re- 
alized at times the possible termination 
of her illness and on one occasion when 
her husband was standing by her bed, 
she awoke from a slumber and looking 



MA%Y HA%TWELL CATHERWOOD 79 

up into his face exclaimed, 'Tapa, must 
I die?" Then she sank again to slum 
ber, until her spirit took its departure. 

Her Death 

Mrs. Mary Hartwell Catherwood 
(wife of Mr. James Steele Catherwood), 
died at her Chicago home, 4852 Wash- 
ington Avenue, Friday evening, Decem- 
ber 26, 1902, at 5:30 o'clock p. m. This 
was the evening previous to the twenty- 
fifth anniversary of her marriage. The 
primary funeral services were held in St. 
Paul's Episcopal church in Kenwood, 
Rev. Herman Page, Rector, officiating. 
Although Mrs. Catherwood had still re- 
tained her membership in the Universal- 
ist church at Hoopeston, she had made 
the Episcopal church her place of wor- 
ship while in the city. 

Only the closest and most intimate 
friends were expected on this occasion, 
among whom were Otis Skinner, Ed- 
ward B. McKay, Lorin A. Davis, Ed- 
ward Charles Bay, and Mrs. Deming. 



80 BIOGRAPHY OF 

Mr. Catherwood and his daughter led 
the way into the church, followed bv 
Mrs. Robert Parkinson (their long-time 
friend), and Mr. Catherwood's nephew 
and niece, Robert and Naomi Gather 
wood. 

At the conclusion of the services here, 
the body was taken to the Chicago and 
Eastern Illinois Railway station and 
conveyed to Hoopeston, accompanied 
by the friends. On the arrival at Hoopes 
ton, they were met by the lady members 
and ex-members of the Mary Hartwell 
Catherwood Club, accompanied by their 
husbands, who acted as honorary and 
associate pall-bearers. The casket was 
conveyed to the residence of Mrs. C. H. 
Catherwood, where her many friends: 
called to view the remains, to pay their 
respects and to mingle their tears of 
sympathy with the bereaved. 

The regular funeral services were held 
at Hoopeston on the following day. 

At two o'clock on Sunday afternoon 



MARYHARTWELL CATHERWOOD 81 

the hearse and cortege moved from the 
residence of Mrs. C. H. Catherwood to 
the Universalist Church, where the reg- 
ular funeral services were held. 

The casket was placed in front of the 
altar, surrounded by banks of flowers, 
wreaths, and exquisite floral designs. 
Chief among these was an open book of 
white roses, presented by the Mary 
Hartwell Catherwood Club, bearing on 
the left page the initials ''M. H. C. C," 
and on the opposite page "Finis." 
Another was a handsome wreath of au- 
tumn leaves, from her publishers. Floral 
contributions were presented by James 
Whitcomb Riley, Otis Skinner, and oth- 
er literary friends. 

Possibly the most pathetic and touch- 
ing incident in the ceremony was the 
banner of "The Little Rose-Bud Class." 
This banner was made by Mrs. Cather- 
wood's own hands when she had charge 
of the little Rose-Bud Class in the Sun- 
day School at Hoopeston. 



82 BIOGRAPHY OF 

The choir sang "Lead Thou Me On," 
followed by Scripture reading by the 
pastor, Rev. J. L. Everton. Rev. T. B. 
Fisher, of Peoria, Illinois, who had been 
pastor of this church when Mrs. Cath- 
erwood was a regular attendant and a 
teacher in the Sunday School, spoke 
tender words concerning the Hfe and 
noble character of the deceased, saying, 
among other things, "She had finished 
the work required of her, and added her 
share to the life and joy of the age. In 
her home-life and in her social Hfe she 
was a benediction, and wielded a power 
for good wherever her associations had 
been." 

At the conclusion o-f the church cer- 
emony, the funeral cortege repaired to 
Floral Hill Cemetery, where all that was 
mortal of this noted author, this devoted 
wife and mother, this beloved friend and 
neighbor was consigned to its earthly 
resting place. 

The associations indelibly connected 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 83 

with this sacred shrine will perpetually 
renew for those who loved her, hallowed 
and ever green memories, fragrant as 
garlands on the heavenly shore. "Dust 
to dust" is written of the body, but not 
so of the spirit, — not of the living, puls- 
ing energies which inhabit the body. So 
long as the earthly form was capable of 
giving expression to the qualities of the 
living spirit within the body it was hers 
to use, enjoy, and for the happiness and 
good of those who belonged to her 
world. We who knew her best did not 
base our appreciation of Mary Hartwell 
Catherwood upon external appearances, 
but from noble qualities of the immortal 
spirit which found expression through 
the body for earthly use. But when the 
body failed"— The life did leave it" to 
engage in the higher services of the 
spirit-world. The vital energies and gen- 
ius which she gave to the world, illum- 
inated by her inherent goodness and 
truth of themselves are immortal; and in 



84 BIOGRATHY OF 

that world these are the garments she 
will wear, while her pulsing emotions 
are no longer restricted by earth's limi- 
tations. To us she is still imaged in the 
bodily form ; yet it was not the body, but 
the being within that bodily form which 
she expressed in life and gave to the 
world, that inspired our love and admi- 
ration. Not only by her genius, but 
also by her fidelity to all, by her mother- 
love devotion, by that steadfast attach- 
ment through a quarter of a century of 
wedded life. 

"She has made her life sublime; 

And departing leaves behind her 
Foot-prints on the sands of time," 

The parting may be bard below, 
For human ties are knitted so; 
But Faith and Hope shall be our trust, 
With self-desire consigned tO' dust; 
For now her earthly work is done. 
Whose seeds will ripen in the sun, 
While radiant in her work we see 
The gifts of heavenly majesty. 



CHAPTER FIVE 



Brief Extracts From Some Obituary 
Notices. 

From among the hundreds of sym- 
pathetic letters and obituary notices of 
special interest I feel justified in append- 
ing the following: 



From Ja.mes Whitcomb Riley, 

"Mrs Oatherwood was a dear friend of mine. 
I first knew her in Indianapolis, and lier death 
is a great shock to me. I had a high appre- 
ciation of her fine mental endowment. Her 
death, to my mind, is a distinct loss to the 
fraternity of letters." 

From Mr. H. K HolvUnd 

of Indianapolis t Ind* 

"My feelings over my personal loss are such 
that I cannot give a carefully thought-out ap- 
preciation of Mrs. Catherwood's worth, and 



86 BIOGRAPHY OF 

society's loss. I heaird from her daughter, tell- 
ing me of her mother's condition, and saw 
from her letter that the child did not realize 
the seriousness of her mother's illness. In 
spite of this, the news of her death is a shock 
to me. . . . 

"She was a great lover of nature, and saw 
all of its heauties with the eye of an artist. 
She would go into raptures over a sunset, and 
clap her hands in childish delight at the dis- 
covery of the first spring flower. 

"Mrs. Catherwood was a mother by instinct. 
It was a benediction to go into her home. Her 
love went out to every one, and every thin^ 
good. She was thoughtfulness, gentleness, snd 
self-sacrifice personified. She had her full 
share of trials, but met them with a high 
courage, and bore them with unending pa- 
tience." 

From Mr. Ed'win Scott 

"Mrs. Catherwood took a place among West- 
ern writers that cannot be filled, and the un- 
finished work she left will be incomplete to 
the end, 

"It is not generally known that Mrs Cather- 
wood, in addition to her other accomplish- 
ments, was a poet. The vivifying power of 



MARY HAm-'WELL CATHERWOOD 87 

her prose was due, almost wholly, to the infu- 
sion of poetic thought; so that it would have 
been astonishing if she had not written verses. 
In fact, she wrote many in her early life. One 
of special merit, now that her mortal part has 
been laid under the trees she loved, is called 



My Secret 

If you knew my secret, you would not believe it; 

If you knew my secret, you would laugh at me. 
Once I was a tree: how my life did leave it. 

That I cannot tell at ail. But once I was a tree. 

Wide I spread my branches, with all the leaves a-shaking; 

Oh, but it was'mighty to wrestle with the storm! 
Deep I struck my roots, and feared not any quaking; 

There I hid my heart's best blood, to save and keep it 
warm. 

Still I want to ripple, with the rythmic motion; 

Still I strike my roots so deep they never can be moved; 
Oh, I want to sing the song the angels taught the ocean. 

And the ocean taught the forest, for the forest was beloved. 
Give me room to grow In; let me shelter creatures; 

Let the autumn strike me golden; let the winter strip, 
I forget that flesh has given me human features. 

Still the Dryad spirit is laughing on my lip; 

For I was a tree, with hill-sides for my pillows; 
I once was a tree, glad in the rushing rains. 
Oh, I want to sing the songs that the angels taught the 

billows. 
When I see my forest kin, the sap leaps through my veins. 

"This singing lyric strikes a sympathetic 
chord, and those who read Mis. Catherwood's 



88 BIOGRATHY OF 

romances understandingly will not doubt that 
it is a vital bit of her own personality." 

Mrs. Catherwood was one of the most 
widely read novelists of the country and 
was a devoted admirer of the section h 
which she was born. In some of her 
early stories especially, she indicated 
this by the subject, or in the clearly de 
fined characters or scenes of historic 
facts. "Rocky Fork" is a well-known 
portion of her native county, while "Old 
Caravan Days" represents the long line 
of white, canvass bow-covered wagons 
which meandered, in early days along 
that great thoroughfare — The National 
Pike. 

To all who knew Mrs. Catherwood 
personally, and appreciated her noble 
character and brilliant genius, the words 
of Hobart-Chatfleld-Taylor will find a 
oneness of sentiment and feeling. He 
said: 

"Mrs. Catherwood's death was a great shock 
tO' me. She occupied a unique place in Amer- 



MARY HARTWELL CATHERWOOD 89 

ican literature, because of her inclination to- 
ward the historic features regarding the early 
settlement and exploration of the Middle West 
and Northwestern portion of America. 

"Her books appealed to mo with peculiar 
force, and I think they have earned for them- 
selves a prominent usefulness. I have known 
Mrs. Catherwood for some years and have a 
distinct personal sorrow in her sudden death." 

The End. 




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